Nothing keeps you quite as warm as a sheepskin coat.
Even the latest high-tech fabric (or the fluffiest of down) can't cut it, compared to a real shearling fleece.
However, even though I'm not a vegetarian I still feel a twinge of guilt wearing the skin of an animal.
Which is simply ridiculous when you consider I use leather handbags, not to mention all of my leather shoes and boots!
I feel like such a hypocrite.
A friend of mine is a real vegetarian.
{Not one of those people who doesn't eat X, but will happily tuck into Y when it suits.}
She doesn't eat anything with a face (her words), including bi-products like gelatin, or wear animal-derived products like leather.
Despite the depressing reality of plastic shoes and bags, her principles are strong.
She makes many compromises when it comes to food, and even more when it comes to fashion!
I admire but don't envy her.
I, on the other hand, eat meat.
I wear leather.
So why do I feel guilty about this coat?
What's the big deal about a shearling jacket when I'd happily eat a lamb chop?
There is a part of me that squirms a little.
I've no idea why.
What are your thoughts on wearing leather or sheepskin?
What about Fur?!
Is there a line you won't cross?
Please share your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
{Drop me an email, if you'd rather not comment here}
This particular sheepskin coat is a vintage piece and the quality is outstanding.
It is so beautifully made and has a great history.
It belongs/belonged to my mother in law and I laugh every time I think about her wearing it.
She is no taller than 4'10", and must be a size UK 6 (if she's lucky).
The thought of her getting lost in this oversized coat always makes me chuckle.
She currently lives in a nursing home suffering from Dementia... but I know that if she were her old self, she would love the fact I was wearing her coat and enjoying its cosiness on these coldest of days!
This coat is SO warm...
I was as snug as a bug in a rug, despite the biting winds and having relatively few layers underneath.
I styled the coat simply with flared jeans and a cosy Aran knit.
Tapping into my Irish ancestry.
My grandpa would have approved... I'm sure he's watching over me reminding me to put on a vest!
Obviously, I have my usual thermal base layers underneath, just fewer than normal.
That's the beauty of natural fibres.
They know how to do the job with the least amount of fuss.
SHEEPSKIN COAT: Vintage.. try this one.
FLARED JEANS: River Island
WOOL JUMPER: Charity shopped.. this one is chic!
LEOPARD BOOTS: Miss KG... similar, or try these.
CASHMERE SOCKS: c/o WoolOvers
GET THE LOOK
Hi Sam, I am a strict vegetarian, but wear leather, but would never wear fur. Those are my unusual lines. Each to their own I guess. I also have a vintage shearling, full-length coat which I only wear in extremely cold weather, very warm but quite heavy. Lise
ReplyDeleteEach to their own... yes indeed Lise!
DeleteWe all have our own thoughts on this don't we?
I was always surprised that my friend was not a vegan as her principles on leather are so fierce.
However, she does not eat/like many traditional vegan foods such as mushrooms, nuts, tofu, soy.
I don't know how she does it!
XXX
Hello Sam, I understand your dilemna. I am not a vegetarian, but I feel guilty and self-conscious whenever I wear my beautiful vintage leather skirts. I don't and wouldn't wear fur which does not make sense since I wear leather. On another note, I know that your mother-in-law would really love that you are wearing her coat. I know that I would.
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting you saying this Mireille, thank you.
DeleteI wouldn't think twice about wearing a leather skirt... how strange that you feel self-conscious, just as I do in my sheepskin.
We each have to make peace with our actions and wearing our vintage pieces is much more important than letting them end up in landfill.
Thank you for this comment, and your kindness!
XXX
I think you look gorgeous in the outfit, Samantha! I don't have any qualms about wearing leather or eating meat, although I don't eat much of it. I used to own a real fur coat – I didn't buy it, I inherited it. But I didn't feel comfortable wearing it so we sold it to a dealer.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great weekend!
Suzy xx
www.suzyturner.com
P.S I always call you Samantha – but wonder if you prefer to be called Sam? I'm actually a Suzanne but much prefer Suzy ;)
You have to do what you think is right Suzy... and fur still has a huge stigma attached to it. Not in some countries, of course, but certainly here in the UK.
DeleteI think the whole real fur being sold as faux-fur scandal has really upset people.
Especially knowing that the animals are treated so badly in these cases.
At least high-end fur is farmed properly, even if we may not all agree with the end product.
Something that shocked me recently was hearing that because less meat is being eaten some traditional by-product leathers are being produced just for the leather... so the meat of the animal is not being eaten.
No better than fur production!!
I don't know enough about this yet, but I intend to have a further look!
Thank you for your comment and provoking more thought on the subject.
XXX
P.S I don't mind Samantha or Sam but I really REALLY dislike Sammy.... grrrrrrr..... it's a long story behind that one but it's not a name I answer to!
I've always felt comfortable wearing and eating animals. Like you I have no qualms at all about leather purses, shoes, belts and jackets mainly because I see the leather as a byproduct of the meat/cattle industry. I've inherited a mink that belonged to my maternal grandmother and I purchased a sheepskin vest at a Goodwill/ thrift store. These are valuable treasures that should be recycled and reused. It would be shameful if they were in a landfill. I also own several goosedown filled jackets that I did purchase new. Like you, I find all of these natural animal derived garments very warm and I appreciate and value them.
ReplyDeleteI think that's the point isn't it Judy?
DeleteWe appreciate these special pieces and treasure them.
Wasting anything is (as you rightly said ) shameful.
That is why many shops with their endless racks of cheap and nasty polyester really get me down.
I just know it's all going to end up in landfill.
Give me a quality vintage piece anyday!
Thank you for your fab comment.
XXX